Reps seek details of joint venture agreements, concessions in health sector

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets and Special Duties has directed the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, to provide details of the Joint Venture (JV) agreement between BioVaccines Nigeria Limited, May and Baker and the federal government as well as other partnerships to improve healthcare in the country. […]

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets and Special Duties has directed the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, to provide details of the Joint Venture (JV) agreement between BioVaccines Nigeria Limited, May and Baker and the federal government as well as other partnerships to improve healthcare in the country.

The directive was given at an investigative hearing on the various public, private partnership programme and concession agreements by the ministry held at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Speaking, deputy chairman of the committee, Rep. Ismail Dabo, told the minister to submit evidence of advertisement of the PPPs/concession/lease, expression of interest on leases as well as specific achievements recorded by the ministry in the period under reference.

The minister was also directed to provide relevant documents over the lease of land to May and Baker in Lagos and details of transfer of shares to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).

• UNICEF welcomes Tinubu’s directive to release detained minors
• Abducted timber contractor, 2 others freed after N11m ransom

Similarly, chairman of the committee, Rep. Ademorin Kuye, told the minister to provide the documents supporting the ministry’s N10 billion equity contribution.

Responding, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare said the joint venture agreement between the federal government and May and Baker was done in 2007.

He said, “There were several administrations before this which concessioned the Yaba Lab to May and Baker, a pharmaceutical company, on the basis of an agreement to manufacture vaccines in Nigeria.

“May I say, Chairman, that the percentage based on that agreement that was reached in 2007 was 51% for May and Baker, 49% for the federal government. The documents that we are trying to collect go back to 2007.

“And the more recent information, and we don’t want to present to this committee information that is inadequate, inaccurate. But we take the guidance that we will give you the list, the gap, and I will sign it. I personally will sign it when we come back to the committee with regards to May and Baker.”

After his submission, the minister was given two weeks to re-appear before the committee with all the relevant documents. a